Beaded traditional skirt / Isidwaba - Isidwaba - Zulu - South Africa
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Current bid
€ 280
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 350 - € 400
 | €280 | |
|---|---|---|
| €260 | |
| €240 | |
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Isidwaba traditional beaded leather skirt, from South Africa and likely Zulu, provenance: private collection.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Important traditional African leather skirt, richly adorned with thousands of small glass beads, probably of Zulu origin, South Africa.
The flared shape, leather construction, and the very particular work on the reverse bring this piece close to isidwaba, the traditional leather skirts worn by Zulu women.
Decoration
The entire outer face is covered with remarkable hand-beadwork.
The small red, white, and cobalt blue glass beads are organized into numerous geometric registers: horizontal bands, grids, arc motifs, vertical lines, and extremely dense repetitive compositions.
The work is particularly spectacular due to the quantity of beads used and the regularity of their arrangement.
Construction
The base is made of soft skin/leather.
The reverse clearly reveals the traditional construction: the skin is worked into a succession of fine lines and stitched folds, giving the garment its flared shape and flexibility.
Two long leather strips are preserved at the upper edges and would have allowed the piece to be worn around the waist.
Zulu skirts in pleated skin, called isidwaba, were traditionally linked to female status, especially married or betrothed women. Comparable leather-and-bead pieces are held, among others, in the British Museum and the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. British Museum
Dimensions
• Lower edge width: about 160 cm
• Upper edge width: about 90 cm
• Height: about 60 cm
Thus, this is a piece of notably large dimensions.
Condition
Ancient state with patina and signs of use appropriate to the age and function of the object.
The skin shows folds, cracks, irregularities, and signs of age.
A few small losses or bead shifts may be present, but the decoration remains remarkably abundant and legible.
The leather fastenings are still present.
The numerous photographs, including those of the reverse, are an integral part of the description and allow precise assessment of the condition.
Dating
Probably the first half to mid-20th century.
Origin / attribution
Southern Africa, probably Zulu, South Africa.
A very fine ethnographic object, remarkable both for its dimensions and for the richness of its beadwork.
Important traditional African leather skirt, richly adorned with thousands of small glass beads, probably of Zulu origin, South Africa.
The flared shape, leather construction, and the very particular work on the reverse bring this piece close to isidwaba, the traditional leather skirts worn by Zulu women.
Decoration
The entire outer face is covered with remarkable hand-beadwork.
The small red, white, and cobalt blue glass beads are organized into numerous geometric registers: horizontal bands, grids, arc motifs, vertical lines, and extremely dense repetitive compositions.
The work is particularly spectacular due to the quantity of beads used and the regularity of their arrangement.
Construction
The base is made of soft skin/leather.
The reverse clearly reveals the traditional construction: the skin is worked into a succession of fine lines and stitched folds, giving the garment its flared shape and flexibility.
Two long leather strips are preserved at the upper edges and would have allowed the piece to be worn around the waist.
Zulu skirts in pleated skin, called isidwaba, were traditionally linked to female status, especially married or betrothed women. Comparable leather-and-bead pieces are held, among others, in the British Museum and the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. British Museum
Dimensions
• Lower edge width: about 160 cm
• Upper edge width: about 90 cm
• Height: about 60 cm
Thus, this is a piece of notably large dimensions.
Condition
Ancient state with patina and signs of use appropriate to the age and function of the object.
The skin shows folds, cracks, irregularities, and signs of age.
A few small losses or bead shifts may be present, but the decoration remains remarkably abundant and legible.
The leather fastenings are still present.
The numerous photographs, including those of the reverse, are an integral part of the description and allow precise assessment of the condition.
Dating
Probably the first half to mid-20th century.
Origin / attribution
Southern Africa, probably Zulu, South Africa.
A very fine ethnographic object, remarkable both for its dimensions and for the richness of its beadwork.
Details
Indigenous object name
Isidwaba
Number of objects
1
Ethnic group/ culture
Zulu
Country of Origin
South Africa
Period
Mid 20th century
Material
Leather, glass beads
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Beaded traditional skirt / Isidwaba
Height
60 cm
Width
160 cm
Provenance
Private collection
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